Pressure ulcer and donut pillows

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If anyone can help ASAP, I'd appreciate it. I'm a first year nursing student. We were told very definitively in class NOT to use a donut pillow when the patient has a pressure ulcer. Our instructors stressed this. A family member is currently in the hospital post-op for mitral valve replacement. He's 84 and has been in the hospital for 8 days. Yesterday we noticed a stage I pressure sore on his sacrum- today the area has a small fissure and a barrier cream was applied. When we visited, he was sitting on a donut pillow given to him by his nurse. Is this contraindicated? If the donut should not be used, what can we use in its place? Is an inflatable rectangular cushion ok? Thank you very much for your help.

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